Twins: Brian Duensing has been a smashing success

Twins reliever Brian Duensing throws against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field on Sunday, April 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Twins reliever Brian Duensing hasn't just opened the year with seven scoreless appearances totaling nine innings. The left-hander has been blowing up bats in the process.

His fastball still tops out around 92 mph, but the late movement caused the bat of Kansas City's Alex Gordon, a left-handed batter, to shatter last Friday. Duensing has sawed off a right-handed batter as well.

Has he added a new pitch? Tweaked his grip? Anything new?

"I think the only thing that's really going on is I'm just getting in there a little bit," he said. "We've been talking about, 'If you miss, miss in.' There's a little bit of run to (the fastball) here and there, especially to lefties; the ball runs in to them a little more."

Duensing has allowed just three hits and a walk, including just one extra-base hit (a double). Opponents' batting average on balls in play has been .125, a sign he's inducing weak contact -- and maybe benefiting from a little luck, as well.

"If I'm going in, I'm missing in instead of missing over the plate," Duensing said. "If you can get a guy leaning one way and get him out the other, sometimes you get the swings they've had. Other than that, I don't know what's going on."

Gordon's bat shard forced Duensing to jump out of the way -- "That one got me a little nervous," he said. "A little too close for comfort" -- but in general, blowing up bats is good.

"That means the ball isn't going that far," he said. "That's the main thing.